CONCHOLOGY. 



POMACEA MACULATA. 



Character — Shell univalve, orbicular, spire short, round and 

 obtuse, mouth open and divided by a circular 

 margin from the body, beak none. 



THE Shell at present to be described, is analogous 

 to the Helix or Snail in its form and appearance, and has 

 generally been classed with that Genus by former authors, 

 nevertheless its distinctions are sufficiently striking to have 

 prevented such a gross error in its arangement, the mouth 

 being divided all round from the body by an upright and 

 distinct margin, which the Helix or Snail Shell is always 

 without. It is therefore not unappropriately denominated 

 the Pomacea or Apple-Shell, from its general resemblance 

 to Pomum, an Apple, the Latin name for that well known 

 and familiar fruit. It is delineated from a specimen in Mr. 

 Bullock's Museum, and is conceived to be a Native of 

 the South Sea, but of what part is not at present exactly 

 known. It may certainly be considered as being very rare. 

 The colour on the outside is of an olive green ; its mouth 

 of a pale brown, spotted with brown marks ; the spire very 

 small and short, but at the same time strongly furrowed and 

 very distinguishable. All the fish which are to be found in 

 this family of Shells, are highly delicious in their flavor, 

 and form a most nourishing species of food. We are in- 

 formed that the ancient Romans had so great a fondness for 

 Snails, that they had wells constructed for the purpose of 

 feeding them, and that they were afterwards sold at very 

 considerable prices. 



The Moderns seem to hold them much in contempt, 

 and although constantly exposed for sale in the public 

 markets, seem to be merely appropriated to the sickly and 



